Mastertapes

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask Edwyn Collins questions about his 1994 album, 'Gorgeous George'.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

With a small band, Edwyn performs acoustic live versions of some to the tracks from the album which he started recording 20 years ago.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.

Edwyn Collins discusses his 1994 album 'Gorgeous George', featuring the single 'A Girl Like You'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Edwym talks to John Wilson.

Edwyn is an Ivor Novello Award-winning songwriter who has enjoyed great success both as a solo artist and as the lead singer of Orange Juice.

"Gorgeous George" was produced in the studio which Edwyn built himself and highlights Edwyn's witty melodic style. 'Girl Like You' spent 14 weeks in the charts and features in the films 'Empire Records' and 'Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle'. Edwyn has also produced records for the likes of The Cribs, Space, Little Barrie and The Proclaimers, produced and starred in his own sitcom as well as creating a book of illustrations.

In May 2009, he won the Ivors Inspiration Award in recognition of his struggles following a double brain haemorrhage in 2005. He has continued to record and his latest album 'Understated' was recently released on his own label.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Helen Lennard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2013.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, the audience ask Natalie Merchant questions about her 1995 solo album, 'Tigerlily'.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Natalie also performs live versions of some to the tracks from the album.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.

Natalie Merchant discusses 'Tigerlily', her 1995 solo album made after leaving 10,000 Maniacs.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Natalie talks to John Wilson.

Completely self-funded (to ensure creative control),'Tigerlily' went on the sell over 5 million copies and continues to be Natalie Merchant's most successful album to date. Its bold and stripped down sound gave more emphasis to her powerful and often personal lyrics, including 'Beloved Wife' (inspired by her grandfather's grief in the wake of her grandmother's passing) and 'River' (written in response to the sudden and untimely death of her friend River Phoenix).

The album also included the top-40 singles 'Wonder' and 'Jealousy', as well as her first top-ten hit as a solo artist, 'Carnival'.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2013.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp and Tony Hadley respond to audience questions about their 1983 hit album, 'True’.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Gary and Tony answer questions from the audience and perform live versions of some of the songs from the album.

Producer: Helen Lennard

First broadcast on Radio 4 in June 2013.

Eliza and Martin Carthy talk about their critically celebrated 2002 folk album, 'Anglicana'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In this one (The A-side), Anglicana with Eliza Carthy and her father Martin Carthy talking to John Wilson.

Together Eliza Carthy and her parents Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson have consistently breathed new life and vitality into English folk music. Martin Carthy MBE has influenced the likes of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon with his interpretations of the traditional music of these shores. His guitar playing continues to inspire artists in all genres and he continues to tour and record on his own, and when working with wife Norma Waterson and daughter Eliza Carthy as Waterson:Carthy.

Eliza Carthy has continued to expand the legacy of her parents work, reinterpreting and reinvigorating English folk in her own unique style. Her fiddle playing is in a class of its own and throughout her career she has experimented with unusual musical collaborations, including the hugely successful Imagined Village project. "Anglicana" was released in 2002 and gained Eliza her second Mercury nomination. It features both Martin Carthy and her mother Norma Waterson and was hailed as a new definition of what it means to be English in the 21st Century.

Eliza and Martin discuss their constantly evolving interpretations of traditional folk songs and their work together with Norma Waterson as Waterson:Carthy.

In The B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Helen Lennard

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2013.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, guitarist and founding member Wilko Johnson responds to questions from the audience about Dr Feelgood's 'Down By The Jetty'.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Wilko also performs exclusive live versions of some of the songs discussed.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

First broadcast on Radio 4 in May 2013.

Wilko Johnson talks about Dr Feelgood's debut album, released in 1975, 'Down By The Jetty'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In this one (The A side), John Wilson talks to the guitarist and founding member of Dr. Feelgood about 'Down By The Jetty', released in January 1975 and including 'Roxette', 'She Does It Right' and 'All Through the City', the album has been cited as a major influence by the likes of Paul Weller, the Clash, Blondie and the Ramones.

Wilko Johnson talks about his diagnosis with terminal cancer and his decision not to undergo chemotherapy, while he goes on a final tour.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2013.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, Coraine Bailey Rae responds to questions from the audience about the inspiration behind her 2010 album, 'The Sea'.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Corinne, together with pianist Steve Brown, performs acoustic live versions of some of the songs discussed.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

First broadcast on Radio 4 in December 2012.

Following on from the A-side of this two-part programme, Ray Davies responds to questions from the audience about the inspiration behind two classic Kinks albums, 'Lola' and 'Muswell Hillbillies'.

With John Wilson at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios in London.

Ray performs acoustic live versions of some of the tracks from the albums, both of which were released more than forty years ago.

Producer: Paul Kobrak.

First broadcast on Radio 4 in December 2012.